Being diagnosed with cancer is a shocking news, and it is especially traumatic for sick children and their parents. Hair loss is often an inevitable consequence of such cancer treatments as chemotherapy and radiation, which affected kids have to undertake. While temporary baldness may not be a big issue for minor children, cancer-stricken teenagers can suffer deep emotional trauma related to both their disease and altered self-image. Finding a way to help the child cope with the pain of hair loss thus becomes a very serious concern for parents, caregivers, and doctors.

Read full “Baldness in Children Due to Cancer Chemotherapy”

Thinning hair can be a huge physiological problem, especially for women. Excessive hair loss can trigger severe stress and lead to social withdrawal, depression, low self-esteem, and a host of other conditions. Since thick, luscious hair is habitually associated with female health, fertility, self-confidence, stylishness, youthfulness and beauty, thin locks or bald patches on the scalp are often perceived as ugly and shameful. Unfortunately, an increasing number of women in our society, and particularly those who get through their menopausal transition, suffer from hair loss and face related physiological trauma. For them, an ability to manage stress and cope with negative social attitudes towards balding women can become an essential survival technique.

Read full “How to Cope with Psychological Consequences of Hair Loss – Information for Balding Women”

Rule # 1. The scalp, hair follicles and hair shafts benefit from proper nourishment. A healthy diet to prevent premature hair loss should incorporate foods that contain plenty of essential vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. Unfortunately, the Standard American Diet, also known as SAD, is heavy on devitalized junk foods, processed grains, and sugar-loaded products that provide little nutritional value. In order to support the growth of thick, healthy locks, hair roots particularly need such vital minerals as magnesium, iodine, zinc, iron and selenium. The richest sources are marine foods – mussels, oysters, kelp, lobsters, shrimps, and deep-ocean fish, including herring, tuna and salmon. Another important group of nutrients to support successful hair growth is B-vitamin family, which is contained in a variety of whole foods, including potatoes, nuts, meats and liver. Also, do not forget to supplement your diet with traditional foods that contain vital cholesterol and animal fats – be it nitrite-free bacon, natural butter, free-range egg yolks, or cod liver oil. Contrary to what is preached by “diet dictocrats”, these nourishing foods are highly beneficial not only for your hair, but also for your general health, good mood, and overall vitality.

Read full “How to Prevent Premature Baldness: Five Rules to Remember”

Since alopecia areata is a poorly understood autoimmune disorder with an unpredictable medical prognosis, not treating is often a wise option. In the majority of cases, the condition resolves itself – bald patches disappear and the hair re-grows without any medical intervention. If you have alopecia areata in a mild form, with only a few small areas of baldness, your health care provider may advise that you should simply apply the method of “watchful waiting” – that is, to wait and see if the condition improves in time without treatment. The hair is likely to re-grow within a period of several months to one year. For the time being, hair style changes can be helpful in masking bald patches.

Read full “All You Need To Know about Treatments for Alopecia Areata (Part I)”

Some of our readers have been asking if alopecia could be a sign of some deeply-rooted pathology inside the body and whether it is associated with any health complications. In some cases, hair loss indeed can be a signal that something is going wrong on a deeper physiological level – several examples are malnutrition that may cause vitamin or mineral deficiencies, thyroid disorders, or heavy metal poisoning. Anxiety, depression and severe stress can also trigger baldness, as well as serious internal diseases. However, in most cases, hair loss is an isolated condition that is related to ageing, hormonal imbalances, or genetics. In its own turn, alopecia can produce symptoms of stress, depression, social anxiety, or other psychological illnesses. If any of these conditions are affecting you, a good solution would be to see your health-care provider to get a correct diagnosis and proper treatment.

Read full “Understanding Alopecia (Part II)”